Open Letter: My Separation from the San Francisco Dream Keeper Initiative

“If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.” -Audre Lorde

I write this with full awareness of the risks that come with a Black and Sāmoan woman speaking her truth. For generations, systems of oppression have sought to erase Black women leaders—women who are more than qualified for the roles they hold—because our brilliance, resilience, and transformative vision challenge the status quo and threaten to dismantle the very foundations of inequity and injustice upon which these systems are built. Yet, I refuse to be silenced. Instead, I choose to stand in my truth and share the contributions I have made, as the Dream Keeper Initiative Director, over the past three years.

On October 2, 2024, I was terminated from my position as the DKI Director with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission following the ousting of the department director—not for any wrongdoing, but because City leadership chose to succumb to false, anti-Black narratives rather than make decisions rooted in truth and facts. Throughout my tenure, I have been unapologetic in my dedication to serving San Francisco as a Sāmoan and Black child of God, a proud San Franciscan, organizer, and advocate for Black liberation and Indigenous sovereignty. These values guided how I showed up every day with grace, humility, and radical love to serve this city.

When I accepted this role, I knew that success would invite attacks. Disrupting systems to advance Black and brown prosperity is inherently threatening in a society that was never designed for us to thrive. I took on this role because I am a bold dreamer, driven by the conviction that until Black people are free, none of us are truly free.

I often entered spaces reminding others that if San Francisco truly served Black residents equitably and justly, the Dream Keeper Initiative would not need to exist. I frequently reflected on why God called me this role, and the answer was always clear: Black and brown San Franciscans are worthy and deserving of a public servant who sees them, hears them, and values their lives and contributions.

I committed to ensuring that San Francisco’s diverse Black communities could experience joy, feel safe, advance educationally and economically, and achieve holistic health and prosperity. This role allowed me to serve historically oppressed communities in ways the city had never done before. I am proud to have contributed to disrupting business-as-usual bureaucracy, alongside the leadership of Black women, and driving transformative accomplishments such as reshaping the City’s down payment assistance loan program, increasing homeownership for Black, White, Asian, Indigenous, and Southeast Asian buyers by over 1000%, and passing legislation to make DALP forgivable.

Intentionality delivered a 97% retention rate and 10 promotions among City employees hired through DKI, setting a new standard for human resources to support diverse talent in ways that ensure they feel safe, valued, and seen—support that had never been offered before.

Creativity and innovation fueled the launch of over 100 businesses, opened more than 30 new retailers and eateries, and provided millions in start-up capital to entrepreneurs, transforming the local economy.

Bold dreaming paved the way for hundreds of students to enroll in post-secondary education and brought over 50 HBCU students to San Francisco for paid internships, generating a $1.3 million economic return for the city.

We proudly prioritized the Black LGBTQ+ community, investing in organizations that deliver vital services to Black transgender, gender nonconforming, and queer youth and adults.

Radical love drives my commitment to centering human experiences and rejecting divisive narratives that demonize Black success, dehumanize communities of color, and seek to diminish our joy, power, and excellence.

Despite having requests for support denied, enduring inadequate infrastructure, being punished for non-existent city policies, subjected to impromptu rules and anti-Blackness, and scapegoated to cover the city’s bureaucratic inefficiencies, this Initiative not only persevered but thrived. Its success is a testament to the unwavering commitment, ingenuity, and resistance of the community it serves and Black women. We continue to rise and thrive in defiance of these unjust obstacles.

My prayer is that Black San Francisco releases ourselves from the bondage of mental slavery and white supremacy and that we internalize the words of Assata Shakur: “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love and protect one another. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” I have experienced a utopia where Black people experience joy and safety, advance educationally and economically, and thrive in holistic health. We deserve this because prosperity is our birthright.

I am proud to have co-built one of the City’s most successful equity initiatives into a national model. I am also proud that this Initiative initially centered Black San Franciscans yet, since inception, has benefited white homeowners, Asian- and Pacific Islander-serving organizations, Latinx-owned businesses, and indigenous communities, reflecting the diversity of this city.

This assignment is complete, and I couldn’t be prouder of how I contributed to this Initiative’s success, showing up wholeheartedly for the city I love. For those seeking how to offer immediate support, I urge you to look beyond sensational headlines—don’t give your clicks or dollars to tabloids that thrive on exploitation. Boycott racist and anti-Black media outlets and narratives that weaponize Black pain for profit. Instead, focus on holding all public servants accountable and working together to prioritize the protection, care, and love our community deserves. Let’s stay grounded in action that uplifts and channels the spirits of our ancestors.

I have deep gratitude for the bold dreamers and freedom fighters. I thank San Francisco’s Black leaders for setting a national standard in courageously addressing community needs during a global reckoning for racial justice. I hold endless love for Black women who selflessly sacrifice every day, bearing the weight of the world’s failures while seldom receiving the recognition we deserve for our contributions to success. I am blessed by the chance to witness the beauty and brilliance of San Francisco’s diverse communities. It was my honor to share my gifts with this city and have its gifts shared with me.

In the continuous fight for liberation,

Dr. Sai